August 31st each year marks International Overdose Awareness Day
Taking place for over 20 years, this is a day to raise awareness of drug overdose, how overdose can be prevented, how to respond in an emergency, remember people who have been lost and campaign for change.
This year many places around the world are ‘lighting up a landmark‘ as a tribute to those lives lost and a powerful reminder to the work we can all do to help prevent overdoses.
Drug related deaths are preventable.
So what can you do?
If you want to learn more about responding to an overdose, Scottish Drugs Forum have information on their Stop The Deaths campaign including resources, information and training on Naloxone.
What is Naloxone?
pronounced: Na-lox-oan
Also known as: Narcan, prenoxad (the injectable version), nyxoid (the nasal spray version)
Naloxone is used to reverse an opioid overdose and saves lives. In Scotland we have a take home naloxone programme, which means that you can access naloxone for free and carry it with you so that you are ready to respond to an opioid overdose. Find out more about naloxone through SDF here or at Crew here, including booking Naloxone training. You can also arrange for ‘click and deliver’ naloxone to be posted to you, following training, through SFAD, just click here.
While the majority of drug related deaths in Scotland involve opioids, including synthetic opioids such as nitazines, it is important to remember that depressants and stimulants can also lead to overdose too.
If you know the signs to look out for and how to respond you can help save a life.
Signs of an opioid overdose include:
- Unconsciousness – won’t wake with a shout or a shake
- Severe nausea and vomiting
- Seizures/fitting
- Difficulty breathing/snoring/raspy breathing
- Blue/pale tingeing of knees, hands and lips
- Slow or erratic pulse (heartbeat)
- Pale, cold and clammy skin for people with white skin: ashy-grey, cold and clammy skin for people who have black or brown skin
- Pin-point pupils
- Always call 999 in an emergency
- Put the person into the recovery position if possible (as shown on the previous graphic)
- IM (intramuscular) naloxone should be administered into the muscle at the top of the thigh
- It can also be administered into the top part of the arm between the elbow and shoulder where vaccines are usually administered
- If someone has not responded to the first dose of IM naloxone administered into their thigh then a second dose could be administered into the top of their arm to increase the effectiveness of the medicine.
- Remember that you can administer up to 5 doses per injecting naloxone (Prenoxad) kit, and 1 per nasal naloxone (Nyxoid) kit
- If the person stops breathing perform CPR (chest compressions and rescue breaths) where possible.
- Naloxone does not affect breastfeeding so this should not discourage you from administering it
- The aim of naloxone is to save a life so if a pregnant person is overdosing and at risk of death, naloxone should be administered
- Take extra care when inserting the needle if the person has low body fat/muscle mass
- The person may vomit, be disorientated, dizzy, nauseous, anxious or be aggressive when they wake up
- The effects of naloxone can wear off after 20-30 minutes so ensure you stay with the person in case they go back into overdose
Below are some downloadable reources and useful links about overdoses and how you can respond.
- Naloxone at Crew
- Postal naloxone
- Naloxone training
- Info on getting help in Edinburgh with Drugs
- Free App listing free support groups in Edinburgh
- WEDINOS
- How to test your drugs
- Drug emergencies
- RADAR: Scotland’s drugs early warning system
- Resources- Stop The Deaths
- Support for people who have provided CPR
- SFAD Bereavement Support
To find out more about drug-related deaths in Scotland read our latest Drug Trend Report 2023-24.